CWC Fellows Cultivate Creativity

To end our CWC Year 4 Fellows Highlights, we will showcase our Fellows who are attending SCAD in Savannah/Atlanta and the Academy of Art in San Francisco this summer. 

SCAD is a five-week program where students gain one-on-one guidance from renowned instructors, and experience working with like-minded artists and designers. Our fellows will take courses like Fashion Aesthetics and Style, where students learn to combine design elements and principles through creative design projects. SCAD also offers Introduction to Textiles, introducing students to the qualities and properties of fashion fabrics. Students learn the basics of fabric identification and specific uses in the fashion industry, incorporating weaving, and dyeing into their projects. 

The 2 Fellows currently participating in SCAD’s Rising Stars program are Alana from Texas and Nyle from Florida. Both students are current 11th graders who exemplify what it means to be a Black fashion designer today, learn more about them below. 

CWC Fellow Alana

Alana's journey in art and design began early, shaping her into a dedicated and creative individual. Throughout middle and high school, she immersed herself in many courses, including Art, Ceramics, and Fashion Design, fostering her love for creativity and craftsmanship. Through our program Alana expanded her skills through pre-college classes at FIT and the Academy of Art University, delving into Fashion Design, Marketing, and Styling. 

Fashion Design captivates Alana for its limitless creative possibilities, allowing her to experiment with materials and patterns to craft unique designs. Her dedication to fashion is also fueled by her CWC-appointed mentor, Angela Lanahan, whose career path from major fashion brands resonates deeply with Alana's aspirations. Angela's influence reinforces Alana's belief that hard work and perseverance can help craft her identity as an artist and creator.

Alana aims to attend The Fashion Institute of Technology to major in Fashion Design. She dreams of illustrating for Oscar de la Renta's bridal collections and eventually establishing her sustainable and inclusive bridal shop. Alana sees CWC as pivotal in achieving her goals, providing her with top-tier education, industry insights, and the mindset needed to excel in the competitive fashion industry.

At SCAD this summer Alana aims to enhance her confidence, addressing personal challenges like negative self-talk, as she embraces her innovative ideas.

Alana values open-mindedness as a cornerstone of personal growth. Her willingness to explore new perspectives and collaborate with others reflects her broader philosophy as both a designer and an individual, we are excited to watch Alana use SCAD’s program to enhance her designs.

CWC Fellow Nyle

Nyle's academic journey reflects a lifelong love for exploring and pushing boundaries in the visual arts. His course selection, including 3D Studio Art, Drawing, Painting, and Digital Design, showcases this passion.

Fashion design captivates Nyle because of its ability to bring creative visions into the physical world, demanding attention and space. His interest in fashion design was sparked by a desire to transform his 2D and audio art into tangible, wearable pieces. Nyle's inspiration comes from musicians and their evolving relationship with fashion. He appreciates how the music industry embraces a variety of aesthetics, from maximalist to minimalist, and how artists use fashion to shape their creative direction. 

Nyle's experience participating in a senior-level fashion show exemplifies his self-motivation. Despite initial anxieties about creating a complete garment from scratch, Nyle persevered and produced a piece he is incredibly proud of. This experience highlights his determination, dedication, and organizational skills, skills he plans on further developing this summer at SCAD.

Nyle's love for learning is a key aspect of his character. He finds joy in gaining new knowledge and experiences, within and outside the arts. His favorite class is AP Calculus, demonstrating his enthusiasm for diverse subjects. Nyle's enthusiasm for learning extends to Creatives Want Change, where he eagerly anticipates that our program will help enrich his life.

Creatives Want Change is looking towards watching his skills further develop this summer at SCAD.

Academy of Art  Pre-College Art & Design Experience (PCADE) is for high school students who want to dive into their creative universe. They have designed college-level courses for high school students new to art and design and students who desire to take their skills to the next level. Students will collaborate with other artists and make new friends in an environment that embraces individuality. Students get to live on the Academy of Arts campus in San Francisco. They get to explore the city through weekly sponsored outings as well as being able to venture off campus with other students. 

The 2 Fellows who attended the Academy of Art’s pre-college program this summer are Tennessee 11th-grader Austin and Ohio 11th-grader Kayla. Learn more about these incredible Fellows below. 

CWC Fellow Kayla 

Kayla is a passionate artist with a diverse background in art and design. She has honed her skills through courses in Photography, Art Foundations, Ceramics, and Art History, as well as specialized programs at the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Academy of Art University. These experiences gave her a solid foundation in traditional and contemporary art techniques.

Her love for fashion design stems from fashion's potential for self-expression and the process of creating a collection. Growing up in a small town, she found fashion to be a powerful means of showcasing individuality. Kayla has explored her interest in fashion by creating collections and taking relevant classes. 

Inspired by music, Kayla channels her creativity into her artistic endeavors. Music helps her create by providing a rhythmic and melodic backdrop that allows her ideas to flow freely. Music influences her artistic expression and helps her to zone out and focus while drawing.

​​Despite limitations in finding extensive art and design opportunities in her hometown, Kayla demonstrates a relentless drive to learn and explore.  She eagerly seizes any opportunity that comes her way. She sees CWC as a valuable stepping stone, allowing her to experience what it's like to be away from home in a university setting while gaining industry knowledge. 

This summer at the Academy of Art, Kayla refined her skills and built a network within the fashion industry.

CWC Fellow Austin

Austin brings creativity, determination, and a self-taught approach to Creatives Want Change. Although he hasn't taken formal art and design classes in middle or high school, he leverages social media and personal experiences as valuable tools for learning and creating projects.

Austin's inspiration comes from his early realization that self-reliance is key to achieving his goals. This mindset has driven him to create unique clothing items and entertain himself creatively during challenging times, such as the pandemic. Although his school does not offer design courses, he has taken advantage of online resources like YouTube and Pinterest to connect with other creators and learn new techniques.

Austin has pushed his creativity beyond traditional boundaries, transforming ordinary clothing into stylish, inclusive pieces. He incorporates his other talents, such as crochet, painting, and bleaching, into his fashion projects and is eager to learn more about sewing and garment construction.

He is actively involved in various extracurricular activities and volunteer work, including volunteering at his church, playing tennis, participating in the Student Government Association, and singing in the choir. 

Passionate about fashion design and entrepreneurship, Austin has already started a T-shirt and crochet business. His drive to learn and grow in the fashion industry aided him at the Academy of Art in San Francisco this summer.  

This concludes our series highlighting our incredible CWC Year 4 Fellows. These talented young Black artists are honing their skills and gaining valuable insights into the world of art and design this summer. The future is bright for these CWC Fellows. Their experiences this summer will equip them with the skills and confidence to pursue their fashion designer dreams.  

Check out our Instagram and Website regularly to see how their design skills improved over the summer. We are excited to see what they accomplish!